The angels of the cycle path are back; in the saddle, with a defibrillator in hand, they will watch over the tourists

Pedalling along the cycle path around Varese Lake, on four bicycles equipped for first aid.

One year has passed since a number of “SOS della Valbossa” volunteers started the first aid service, with bicycles and a defibrillator, that improves safety in the event of cardiac interventions, but also simple falls. In 2011, about a dozen first aid interventions were carried out by these cycling volunteers.

It is no accident that the project is called “Bike Life Support” (after BLS, Basic Life Support). The volunteers will perform life-saving interventions that are done when someone suffers a heart attack.

The initiative is starting again this year, and so, at some weekends, you might encounter these special cyclists along the path, wearing bright uniforms, with the “SOS della Valbossa” logo, and “Soccorritore” (“Rescuer”) on them. They will be riding bicycles equipped with a defibrillator, and front and rear bags containing everything they need to provide first aid and primary resuscitation.

“The staff that will be part of this team are trained as emergency medical service personnel, and have all of the necessary skills to provide first aid, for a simple grazing of the knee, a fracture, and even a heart attack,” explained Alessandra Pavesi, the chairperson of the association based in Azzate, which has about a hundred volunteers. “The teams will be active, particularly in the lake areas of Azzate, Buguggiate and Cazzago Brabbia, but we haven’t ruled out the possibility of teams that can cover even greater distances.”

The volunteers will also have cellular telephones, so that they can inform the emergency medical services (telephone number 118), in the event of intervention; the operating centre will set in motion the procedures to send an ambulance, emergency response vehicle or air ambulance (depending on the severity of the situation) to the location.

In the event of medical assistance, users will still have to call the single emergency number, 112.

“This year, it’s been possible to continue this initiative thanks also to the involvement of volunteers from other associations in Varese that are connected with ANPAS (the National Association of Public Assistance),” Alessandra Pavesi said. “Their names are Alessandro Agostinini, Giovanni Ampollini, Giacomo Bianchi and Simone Lattuada, of SOS Malnate; Aramis Amantini of CVA in Angera, and Raffaele Mirabelli of SOS Valceresio, will also be supporting the volunteers from Azzate. It is only by collaborating with a number of associations that we can realise these important projects.”